IL-Gov. 2018 Megathread

[Donerail]

I would say I hope we nominate literally anybody else, but I remembered that Pritzker is probably running. Ugh.

[Donerail]

Lipinski to face a primary challenge.

[Donerail]

Pritzker's exploring. Dems gonna choose between 2 wealthy businessmen?

Sure seems like it. I'll be voting Pawar if that's the field. I do think there's an opening for a candidate like Andy Manar, who would be the sole representative from downstate in the field and who would stand a shot at consolidating labor behind his campaign.

[Donerail]

Not a big fan of Biss, despite his U of C ties - I remember he was linked to a lot of "pension reform" efforts.

[Donerail]

Not a big fan of Biss, despite his U of C ties - I remember he was linked to a lot of "pension reform" efforts.

He seems to have come around on that issue. Also, other than this, I've known him to be fairly progressive. Illinois really doesn't have any great candidates to run against Rauner, but I probably agree with Biss more than Kennedy and I think he would do better in a general than Pawar.

I'm holding out hope for Andy Manar, who has a proven record of winning downstate. He's also made a name as a friend of labor, engineered a good plan on school funding, and has made automatic voter registration one of his signature issues in Springfield.

[Donerail]

Scott Drury sure sounds like he's running for Governor.

[Donerail]

Saw every Democratic candidate last weekend (except Pawar). Very impressed by Biss and thought Pritzker also handled himself very well—I don't know if I'd vote for him in the primary, but I'd be comfortable voting for him in the general, his heart seems like it's in the right place. Chris Kennedy was, uh, an experience.

Straw poll afterwards (among College Democrats) had Biss around 75%, Kennedy and Pritzker around 12% each.

[Donerail]

Saw every Democratic candidate last weekend (except Pawar). Very impressed by Biss and thought Pritzker also handled himself very well—I don't know if I'd vote for him in the primary, but I'd be comfortable voting for him in the general, his heart seems like it's in the right place. Chris Kennedy was, uh, an experience.

Straw poll afterwards (among College Democrats) had Biss around 75%, Kennedy and Pritzker around 12% each.

Kennedy that bad huh?

He was less than comfortable during most of the Q&A sessions. Not a good vibe about him—Rauner isn't particularly special, but without a lot of prep between now and then I don't think he'd handle himself very well in a debate.

Well Biss and Kennedy aren't exactly poor.

Huh? Kennedy is loaded, but Biss made $33K last year. His normal salary (when the state actually has a budget) is around $54K. Relative to Kennedy and Pritzker, that's pocket change.

[Donerail]

It's almost as if there's an army of morons standing in his way!

That "army of morons" has been in control for quite a while now. They've always been able to pass a budget. Even when there was a Republican governor, Thompson and Edgar and Ryan were all able to get a budget passed. That all seems to suggest the problem is not with anyone in the legislature or even with the party of the governor, but rather with the individual currently occupying the office.

[Donerail]

AFL-CIO for Pritzker

[Donerail]

Illinois AFL-CIO has endorsed J.B. Pritzker

Albeit on a relatively narrow vote, with most of the big unions (AFSCME and the teachers) opposed. This is essentially just a signal of support from the building trades - the big-money unions in the AFL-CIO, as well as the SEIU and the Teamsters, are still in play for the other candidates.

[Donerail]

Rauner's problem is that his name is going to be on the ballot, and not Mike Madigan's, so even if Illinois voters blame both equally for the last 3 years, they will only have one clear outlet to express their rage.

I never understood why Madigan is not running for governor? Not that I would like it (at least by knowing what I know about the dude).

He would probably have less power as governor, and would also lose.

[Donerail]

kennedy apparently told a bunch of old people "if you don't vote for me you'll die alone"

[Donerail]

kennedy apparently told a bunch of old people "if you don't vote for me you'll die alone"

Link to an article/video, please.

friend of a friend was there

[Donerail]

kennedy apparently told a bunch of old people "if you don't vote for me you'll die alone"

Link to an article/video, please.

friend of a friend was there

Once the goons of Pritzker and Madigan pick up on this, Kennedy might be dead. We better hope at least Drury runs.

Speak for yourself. I'm an Illinois resident and I couldn't care less about the campaigns of Chris Kennedy or Scott Drury (current preference order is 1. Biss, 2. Pawar)

[Donerail]

Oh, yeah, 4.95% is exorbitant

When you already have the nation's highest property taxes, yeah it kinda is—or at least it's enough not to dismiss it as minor.

[Donerail]

kennedy apparently told a bunch of old people "if you don't vote for me you'll die alone"

Link to an article/video, please.

friend of a friend was there

Video proof or article would be better, if this is somehow real though...

Here's the video.

[Donerail]

Goddamnit. The first Kennedy to show some ambition in decades and he has to blow a winnable race. God f****** damnit.

Robert Kennedy will win this one tonight for you

[Donerail]

Question for Illinois Dems/Indies- If Kennedy & Pritzer both suck, who's the best candidate in your eyes? Biss?

I don't vote in IL but I'll be knocking doors for Biss. If I thought Pawar had a better chance to win I'd flip to him. Pritzker would be my choice against Kennedy or Drury.

[Donerail]

It's downright bizarre how Biss is pretending to be a Bernie-ite or something given he's a braindead Madigan stooge who voted to gut the pension system. Very surreal.

Who he's running against helps immensely in that regard

[Donerail]

biased but I think Biss clearly won this round. he's competing with Pawar for the "Bernie lane" - Rosa burnishes Biss's progressive credentials, while Coleman has the opposite effect for Pawar

[Donerail]

Is it common for gubernatorial candidates in IL to announce their LG picks this early? It seems weird to me

you need to have an LG to start collecting ballot petitions

[Donerail]

So does no one want to run with Chris Kennedy? LMAO. Even Tio Hardiman (who is apparently a real person) has an LG candidate.

my personal theory is that CK is dropping out soon

[Donerail]

just when I thought I couldn't support Biss any more than I do!

[Donerail]

Bliss drops Ramirez-Rosa from his ticket

Nice flip flopping my dude, anyway, Kennedy to announce his running mate next week.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/time-running-out-for-kennedy-to-choose-running-mate-442674383.html

Who might Kennedy pick? Maybe Kwame Raoul?

Why would Kwame Raoul give up his current job to jump on a losing gubernatorial campaign?